10 Most Expensive Houses of 2011

Showcasing 10 of the most expensive houses in the world. Owning a home maybe one of the most expensive things people will buy during their life time. As the 2011 property market throws a curve ball to most average investors, there are properties on the market that continue to blow the budget of most mortgage providers.

Here’s a guide to the 10 world’s most expensive properties. Does it make you sad?

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Antilla, Mumbai, India: $1 billion

Land is a premium in Mumbai, which means you build up rather than out, which is exactly what one of the richest men in the world has done. Mukesh Ambanin has created a 27 storey 40,000 sq ft tower of a house. Billed as ‘the Taj Mahal of the 21st Century’ the towering structure is home to a cinema, heli pad, swimming pool, Krishna temple, bar and library – and is rumored to be served by 600 members of staff.

For the parking alone, the building dedicates 6 stories because Mukesh Ambani has around 168 cars in his collection!

1 Billion dollars! If you could get someone to make the loan at current standard (US) jumbo mortgage rates, the monthly payment on a 30-year loan would be about $12.5 million per month!

More Antilla Mumbai Facts

3 helipads on top. Mumbai corporation has not given permission for making this operational yet.

Hanging gardens within the structure

Swimming pool within the structure

A two storey Health centre

Parking space for 168 cars (6 floors). I initially thought that meant there will be a mini office in the building but apparently that is not the case. All these cars will belong to Mukesh Ambani! Just in case you are interested, he drives a 5 crore Maybach now.

A floor exclusively for servicing these automobiles within the building.

A floor for Home theatre – sitting capacity of 50

Most absurd of all, the house will have a staff of 600 (sic) to do the maintenance activities. That gives a ratio of 1:100 for people living in the house and those who are paid to take care of it. The six lucky ones are the man himself, his wife, his 3 children and his mother Kokilaben. The family will be moving in from their old home ‘Sea Wind’ which was a 14 floor building at Cuffe Parade.

Villa Leopolda, Cote D’Azur, France: $506 million

Ramshackle French chateaus are always ripe for development, but the Villa Leopolda pretty much blows the idea out of the water. Built on 29,000 square on the French Riviera, the villa has 11 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, vast formal gardens, swimming pool and private beach front, and has been valued at $506 million. This villa is having the best beachfront in the south of France. This villa was built for King Leopold from Belgia and was later bought by Edmund Safra. Now the building is the house of the wife of the late Edmund Safra, Lily Safra though it was rumored to be sold to Bill Gates, Gianni Agnelli and undisclosed Russian Tycoon.

The Villa Leopolda estate is spread over two guest houses across 20 acres of grounds with countless olive, cypress and lemon trees taken care by 50 gardeners. Villa Leopolda is most famous, not for the King’s gift to his lover, but because of one the home’s rumored owners, Bill Gates – the Microsoft founder.

Since the luxury home was built, there have been multiple rumors about who has and who hasn’t lived there. Bill Gates is just one of the many people who have never called Villa Leopolda home, yet is one of the most commonly placed people within the estate’s walls. Regardless of who owns it, Villa Leopolda can easily be considered one of the great wonders of the world.

The front of the estate is landscaped beautifully and surrounded by a thick, well-kept tree line. The steps leading up the estate are pink and beige and are the original steps Leopold had constructed. Lily Safra, former owner and wife of the deceased Lebanese businessman Edmond Safra, kept the house in remarkable condition. The mere size of the estate is mind-boggling, with guest homes, swimming pools, and much more covering around 18 acres – most of it being the main house.

There are 19 luxurious bedrooms inside of the Villa, including huge bathrooms, antique furnishings, walk-out terraces, and fireplaces. Other features inside of the home include sporting courts, a bowling alley, multiple kitchens and dining rooms, a movie theater, and other touches like rare marble and period artwork.

Outside of the home, the olive, cypress and lemon trees are like miniature orchards on the residence. It takes over 50 full-time gardeners to maintain the lavish look of the landscape, and most are able to stay on-grounds in living quarters. The 80,000+ square-foot estate is easily one of the worlds most spectacular. Villa Leopolda has been featured on many television shows like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and VH1’s Fabulous Life Of. It has also been featured in many magazines such as Forbes, and is constantly considered one of the foremost historical properties in all of Europe.

The Penthouse, London, UK: $200 million

This apartment that located in Hyde Park will become the most expensive flat in the world at the price of £6,000 per sq/ft. This apartment is guarded with top level security system. You can find many feature of security here such as panic room, bulletproof window, iris scanner, and you can find a tunnel to the nearby area of Mandarin hotel. You can see the communal spas, squash courts and you can find amazing wine tasting rooms here. Of Course this apartment will be served 24 hours by the staffs.

Fairfield Pond, The Hamptons, US : $170 million

This large home is the home of Ira Rennert. It has 63 acres area and become the largest residential compound in the US. The house has 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, 5 tennis courts, bowling alley, large dining room (91 feet long), and you can find $150,000 hot tub as well. This is a beachfront home is completely use for private house. People was hard to believe for the first time that this house is not used for hotel, spa or retreat place.

Hearst Mansion, Beverly Hills, US: $165 million

This Luxurious home that located on Beverly Hills is formerly the prestigious home of the U.S. newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. The house has 6 separate residence, three swimming pools, eight fireplace, tennis courts, night club and 29 bedrooms. Those facility is spread in 6 hectares area in the famous platinum triangle neighborhood in Beverly Hills. This renowned house was purchased by Leonard Ross, a lawyer and investor in 1976 that wanted a change of lifestyle. If you own this house you become the close neighbor of Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and David and Victoria Beckham.

The Pinnacle,” Montana, US: $155 million

This ski Lodge is the largest property in the exclusive private ski and golf community “Yellowstone Club”. You can get a conclusions that this become the owner’s home. Yes, It’s true. It’s the home of Tim and Edra Blixseth. It’s not that big compared to other house in this list with only 10 bedrooms. What’s the facility can be found here? You can find the heated flooring system that stretched throughout the house, fireplace in all bathrooms, a huge wine cellar, indoor and outdoor pool as well as gym and massage room.

The Manor – Los Angeles – $150 Million

Spelling towers is still on the market, after the wife of the television producer Aaron Spelling put it up for sale two years ago – despite not selling, the huge price tag has remained static at a staggering $150 million. Set in 4.2 acres, the 123 room chateau-style mansion has a cinema, bowling alley, tennis courts, swimming pool, a 100 car parking lot and three rooms dedicated purely to the art of present wrapping.

This house was built in 1991 with French Chateau style. This house has 5,248 square meters of room area with more than 4.6 hectares total house area. It’s also the biggest house with the private ownership in the Los Angeles County. The main house is located at the end of long road and well protected with security system. You can find bowling alley, humidity controlled silver warehouse, tennis courts, 2 swimming pools, and luxurious woman beauty care such as beauty salon in the attic and a spa. You can find several garden as well like 18th century style gardens,roof gardens and orange gardens. This house has a parking lot that large enough to park up to 100 cars. You can also find private cinemas on this luxury house.

Updown Court, Windlesham, Surrey, UK: $139 million

This amazing house builton 58 acre land in the Windlesham neighborhood. This huge structure offers 103 rooms with all facility you can imagine as a rich person. There’s a private cinemas in the north part of the house as well as bowling alley for recreation of the owner. You can find horse barn, squash and tennis courts in case you want to get some refreshing with sport. You can find a marble drive away as well that wait you every morning with a parking lot that large enough to park up to 8 limousines.

One Hyde Park – London – £135 million

Launched at a lavish, celebrity studded party in January 2011, One Hyde Park is reputed to be the most expensive residential property in the world – retailing in excess of £6,000 per square foot. Composed of 86 properties, one of which is rumoured to have sold for £135 million, the building boasts a private cinema, sauna, gym, swimming pool, golf simulator, wine cellar, concierge, valet and room service, never mind the highly desirable address.

Dracula’s Castle, Romania: $ 135 million

Dracula’s Castle seems like a bad name but it’s actually a Romanian castle. The castle became a museum during 1980s. The owner of the castle, Archduke Dominic put up the castle for sale. This amazing house, though named as a castle has 57 rooms, 17 bedrooms and unique and beautiful antique furniture.